Participants: Alanzo Smith (Host), Dr. Abraham Jules
Series Code: POH
Program Code: POH000008
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00:03 Where can you find hope for the hopeless?
00:07 Opportunity for transformation? 00:11 Peace amid life's storms? 00:15 Only in God's free gift of eternal life. 00:20 From New York, join us on the Pathway of Hope. 00:30 Everywhere in the world, 00:32 there seems to be this human cry. 00:35 We want to be free. 00:37 Freedom is like an antacid to the human spirit. 00:41 And that's why soldiers will endure hardship 00:45 for the freedom of their country. 00:47 Parents will endure hardship 00:50 for the freedom of their children. 00:52 One generation will endure hardship 00:55 for the freedom of the next. 00:57 And Christians will endure hardship 01:00 for the freedom of the gospel. 01:02 And yes, Jesus Christ Himself endured hardship 01:08 for the freedom of mankind. 01:11 The Apostle Paul admonished us that we should endure hardship, 01:16 like a good soldier of Christ. 01:20 To be a soldier for Christ requires commitment, 01:24 endurance, and sacrifice. 01:27 Oftentimes, we hear of soldiers abandoning their posts, 01:33 refusing to answer the call of duty, 01:36 or abusing their authority. 01:41 Soldiers of Christ, on the other hand, 01:44 must respond to the call of duty 01:47 and be faithful at all times. 01:51 I invite you now to relax 01:54 and listen to Dr. Abraham Jules, 01:57 an anointed preacher 01:59 and the faithful soldier for Christ. 02:13 He promised us 02:16 That He would be out counselor 02:22 A Mighty God 02:24 And the Prince of Peace 02:29 He promised us 02:31 That He would be a Father 02:36 And He would love us 02:39 With a love that would not cease 02:46 Well, I tried Him 02:50 And I found His promises are true 02:54 He's everything 02:57 He said He would be 03:03 The finest words I know cannot begin to tell 03:10 Just what Jesus 03:13 really means to me 03:19 For He's 03:22 More wonderful 03:27 Than my mind can conceive 03:31 He's more wonderful 03:35 Than my heart can believe 03:39 He goes beyond my highest hopes 03:45 and fondest dreams 03:53 He's everything 03:57 That my soul ever longed for 04:02 Everything He's promised 04:05 And so much more More than amazing, 04:12 More than marvelous More than miraculous 04:20 Could ever be 04:22 He's more than wonderful, 04:27 That's what Jesus 04:30 Is to me 04:47 I stand amazed 04:50 when I think the King of glory 04:55 Would come to live 04:58 Within the heart of man 05:03 I marvel just to know 05:06 He really loves me 05:10 When I think of who He is, 05:14 And who I am. 05:19 For He's more 05:25 Wonderful than my mind 05:30 Can conceive He's more wonderful 05:35 Than my heart can believe 05:39 He goes beyond my highest hopes 05:45 and fondest dreams 05:53 He's everything 05:58 That my soul ever longed for Everything 06:04 He's promised and so much more 06:09 More than amazing, 06:13 More than marvelous 06:16 More than miraculous 06:20 Could ever be 06:23 He's more than wonderful, 06:27 That's what Jesus is to me 06:34 He's Everything 06:42 That my soul ever longed for Everything 06:48 He's promised and so much more 06:53 More than amazing, 06:57 More than marvelous 07:00 More than miraculous 07:04 Could ever be 07:07 He's more than wonderful, 07:11 More than wonderful, 07:15 That's what Jesus 07:19 Is 07:23 To me 07:29 Wonderful 07:35 To Me 07:50 Let us pray. 07:53 Father, You have called us out of darkness into this, 07:56 Your marvelous light. 07:59 You've called us to victory 08:01 but You've also called us to hardships. 08:04 We pray tonight as we study this word 08:06 that we'll be reminded of Your call 08:09 upon our lives and Your willingness 08:13 and ability to stand by us, 08:15 in those tough times and in tough places. 08:19 We are assured tonight that Your love is everlasting. 08:23 Your Grace is unbounded. 08:26 And Your promises are true. 08:29 Thank You for being with us and made this word. 08:33 Bring courage to the hearts of the listeners we pray. 08:36 In the name of Jesus we ask it, 08:39 Amen. 08:42 There's a word for us tonight in the book of 2 Timothy, 08:45 in the New Testament, 2:3 and 4. 08:52 2 Timothy 08:54 2:3 and 4. 08:59 The Bible says, 09:00 "Thou therefore endure hardship 09:04 as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 09:08 No man that warreth entangleth himself 09:12 with the affairs of this life, 09:15 that he may please him 09:17 who hath chosen him to be a soldier." 09:22 Tonight's message will take us on a path 09:25 and along a journey 09:28 that will highlight for us that when God calls us, 09:32 sometimes we are called to do some difficult things. 09:36 Sometimes we are called to endure hardship. 09:40 But at all times, 09:42 we will be assured that God is with us. 09:45 Amen. 09:47 Now Timothy enters the biblical picture 09:51 in the book of Acts Chapter 16. 09:54 His mother is a Jew 09:55 and his father is a Gentile Greek. 09:59 He's called a believer. 10:02 And a deep and lasting friendship 10:05 grew between the Apostle Paul 10:08 and his understudy Timothy. 10:12 Paul must have had confidence in him because Timothy, 10:17 we are told, accompanied him on 10:20 many of his missionary journeys as they planted churches 10:24 in several cities and provinces of the Roman Empire. 10:30 Timothy probably helped Paul start the churches in Corinth, 10:34 Philippine, Colossi and Thessalonica. 10:39 Now, this is an interesting combination. 10:42 The ancient Apostle and seasoned evangelist 10:46 with this young trainee, this young intern, 10:49 this upstart in ministry, this hardened prosecutor, 10:54 turned church planter with a young and side pastor. 11:00 It always thrills my heart to see 11:03 young and old work together. 11:05 Always thrills my heart to see young people 11:08 who love to be around older flock. 11:11 You never know the value of sitting 11:13 at the feet of someone 11:14 who's been through some years of hardship and toil, 11:18 who's lived for little while. 11:20 So it thrills my heart here. 11:22 Paul and Timothy, old and young. 11:26 Generations come together. 11:29 Paul must have really felt deep affection for Timothy 11:34 for we find him longing for Timothy's presence, 11:37 and his companionship. 11:40 In 2 Timothy, 11:42 this was Paul's last letter. 11:44 He urged a young pastor, Timothy, 11:46 to come and spend some time with him. 11:50 And by this time, Paul is imprisoned in Rome. 11:53 And Timothy is the pastor of the church in Ephesus. 11:58 Knowing that Nero's nod could send him to his death, 12:02 Paul longs to see Timothy. 12:06 And at best it would take several months 12:08 for Timothy to reach him 12:10 and fearing that his demise is close at hand, 12:14 Paul, we are told pens his last epistle. 12:18 In Chapter 1, he says, 12:19 he prays constantly for Timothy 12:22 and reminds him of his heritage of faith. 12:26 It was that same faith 12:28 that lived within his grandmother, Lois. 12:31 It was that same faith 12:33 that burned in the breast of his mother, 12:36 Eunice 12:37 and is now that same faith that ignites Timothy's life. 12:44 And Paul counsels him 12:46 not to be timid because God has given us 12:48 a spirit of power and love and a strong mind. 12:53 So in Chapter 2, Verses 3 and 4, 12:56 he uses three images or metaphors. 13:01 He uses these metaphors to depict 13:03 what the Christian journey is all about. 13:07 And he uses the metaphor of the soldier, 13:10 the metaphor of the athlete and the metaphor of the farmer. 13:14 Now tonight, we will concern ourselves with only 13:17 the first, the metaphor of the soldier. 13:20 You see, soldiers were common 13:22 in the first century Roman world 13:24 where Paul had lived. 13:26 And so it would not be unusual for him to use this metaphor. 13:30 So matter of fact, in Philippians 2:25, 13:34 he called Epaphroditus his fellow soldier. 13:38 And Philemon 2, 13:39 he calls Archippus the same thing, 13:42 his fellow soldier. 13:44 And so we find him returning to this theme 13:46 in 2 Timothy 2:3 and 4. 13:50 It reads "Endure hardship with us, 13:54 like a good soldier of Jesus Christ." 13:58 No one serving as a soldier 14:00 gets entangled in civilian affairs, 14:04 so that he may please his commanding officer. 14:08 Paul calls Timothy to be a soldier, 14:12 and not just any soldier, 14:14 but a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 14:17 In 2 Timothy 1:35, this was Paul now in prison. 14:20 He's reflecting on his life and he says, 14:22 "You know that everyone 14:24 in the province of Asia has deserted me, 14:27 including Phygelus and Hermogenes." 14:32 Again in 2 Timothy 4:10 and 14-16, "...for Demas, 14:38 because he loved this world, 14:40 he deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica." 14:44 Listen to this, he continues by saying, 14:47 "Alexander the metalworker did me a great disservice, 14:53 and he did me harm." 14:55 At my first offense, he says also, 14:57 "No one came to my support, but everyone deserted me." 15:01 Here is Paul, a soldier 15:03 and he's kind of feeling sorry for himself 15:06 because he was deserted by everybody! 15:09 He learned to enjoy some hardships. 15:14 Let it be known today, friends of mine, 15:16 this Christian journey, 15:17 sometimes you cry all by yourself. 15:20 Amen. Yes. 15:21 Folk may visit you in the hospital 15:23 the first week you in there, 15:25 but after a couple of weeks you're there alone. 15:29 We cry alone. 15:30 We feel the pain alone sometimes, 15:32 because as a good soldier 15:34 you must learn to endure some hardships. 15:39 James 1:12 says, 15:41 "Blessed is the man who perseveres under the trial 15:45 because when he has stood the test, 15:47 he will receive the crown of life 15:48 that God promised to those who love Him." 15:53 Revelation 3:11 says, "I am coming soon. 15:56 Hold on to what you have, 15:58 so that no one will take your crown." 16:01 The first quality of a good soldier 16:04 is that he is steadfast. 16:07 But the Apostle hastens on to indicate 16:09 that a good soldier is also single minded. 16:14 He says, "No one serving 16:16 as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs." 16:21 A better translation says it this way, 16:23 "No one engaged in warfare, 16:25 and tangles himself in the affairs of this life." 16:29 The emphasis is not on being a soldier in quiet times. 16:33 The emphasis is on warfare. 16:36 It's on soldiering in battle. 16:39 All of us could be great soldiers 16:41 if we just stayed home and there was no war. 16:44 Are you at war? 16:46 We wrestle not against flesh and blood, 16:48 but against principalities, against prowess, 16:50 against the rulers of the darkness of this world, 16:52 against spiritual wickedness in high places. 16:55 Ephesians 6:12. 16:57 "If you don't hear the grenades of war exploding around you, 17:00 at least every now and then maybe you need to check 17:03 your declaration of whose side you are on." 17:06 Because if you are on Jesus' side, 17:09 scripture says, 17:10 "All who will live godly must suffer persecution." 17:14 Amen. 17:17 In Paul's Roman world, 17:19 soldiers could not have the attentions diverted. 17:23 There were to be no diversions. 17:25 In order to protect the border of the Roman Empire, 17:27 especially in far flung areas, 17:30 the Roman army was dispatched far and near. 17:34 Garrisons were established all over the Roman world. 17:37 Troops were always on the move, 17:39 it was essential that they move rapidly 17:42 and this was facilitated by the vast network of rows. 17:46 Daily discipline was the order of the day. 17:49 They were no diversions, the soldier was single minded. 17:54 Further, in the midst of the battle, 17:56 the soldier had to be single minded, 17:58 because he knew that if he were not, 18:00 it could mean his death. 18:02 All that's on his heart is the battle. 18:05 In the Roman world 18:07 that Paul was really operating in, 18:10 a soldier was a soldier, and he was nothing else. 18:17 Roman code of Theodosius said, 18:20 "We forbid men engage in military service 18:23 to engage in civilian occupations. 18:26 There must be no hindrance, diversion, or distraction." 18:30 Indeed, the text literally reads 18:32 that we must not be entangled. 18:34 The Greek is empleketai. 18:37 This same word 18:38 is used elsewhere in the New Testament, 18:40 only in 2 Peter 2:20, 18:42 to speak about not getting mixed up 18:44 in the corruptions of the world. 18:46 Elsewhere, Paul admonishes, 18:48 "Do not be conformed to this world, 18:50 but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." 18:53 Romans 12:1 and 2, 18:55 "So the soldier 18:57 is not to be caught up in their fears of civilian life 19:00 and conform to the world's standards." 19:02 He's a soldier, not a politician. 19:05 He's a soldier, not a debater. 19:07 He's a soldier, not an entertainer. 19:11 Scripture tells us, 19:13 it tells us a whole lot about 19:15 the need to be of single purpose. 19:18 It is said of Jesus in Luke 9:51, 19:21 "As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, 19:24 Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem." 19:30 We do well to follow our Lord's example, 19:34 Luke 16:13, 19:36 "No servant can serve two masters. 19:38 Either he will hate the one and love the other, 19:43 or he will be devoted to the one 19:45 and despise the other." 19:47 You cannot serve both God and money. 19:51 James 1:8 says, 19:53 "A double minded man is unstable. 19:57 In all he does." 19:58 And Luke 9:16, Jesus replied, 20:01 "No one who puts his hand to the plow 20:03 and looks back is fit for service 20:06 in the kingdom of God." 20:08 Why should a Christian be single minded? 20:11 There is a purpose clause in the text. 20:14 We may read it as follows. 20:16 No one on active service 20:19 gets entangled in civilian affairs, 20:22 in order that he may please his commanding officer. 20:26 There's one reason why we should be single minded, 20:29 so that we may please our commanding officer. 20:33 This tells us 20:35 that the final quality of a good soldier is service. 20:40 Service is described in that the soldier sets out 20:44 to bring joy and happiness 20:47 and pleasure to his commanding officer. 20:51 Actually, the word really points to the one 20:54 who recruits the soldier. 20:56 Now think of Roman military practice, 20:58 not Modern American Military practice. 21:02 In order, really in our modern context, 21:06 the commander in chief 21:07 is the elected President of the country. 21:10 He doesn't have to be a warrior. 21:12 Obama never served in any part of the military, 21:15 George Bush didn't. 21:16 No experience necessary. 21:18 No combat necessary. 21:20 No blood, sweat, and tears. 21:23 How does a good soldier please his commanding officer? 21:28 Well, he does a few things. 21:29 First, he gives unquestioning obedience. 21:34 Roman soldiers were trained to obey without question. 21:39 The commander said it and it was obeyed. 21:42 Don't have to know the reason 21:43 why soldiers of Christ obey His voice, 21:49 even when we don't understand 21:53 what God is saying and why He's saying it. 21:57 The soldiers of Christ give wholehearted service. 22:02 Love the Lord, thy God with all thine heart. 22:06 With all your soul, 22:07 all your mind and all your might. 22:10 T. Marshall Kelly, 22:12 when I was a student at Oakwood College 22:13 used to sing a song that goes something like this. 22:16 It says, takes your head, 22:19 takes your heart to serve the Lord. 22:22 It takes full surrender to serve the Lord. 22:24 It takes your, it time 22:26 takes your means and your prayers. 22:28 It takes everything to serve the Lord. 22:32 A good soldier, 22:34 in order to please his master knows the value of loyalty. 22:40 When a Roman soldier joined the army, 22:41 he took the sacramentum, 22:44 the oath of loyalty to the Emperor. 22:46 A soldier was loyal to death. 22:50 In Rome, a soldier would die in the Emperor's name. 22:54 Christians must be loyal 22:56 to Christ through all of the twists 22:59 and turns of life, 23:01 even to the point of death, 23:03 we must be loyal to His orders. 23:07 It's not merely that I don't drink 23:08 a little wine, I can't. 23:11 I'm under orders, because "Wine is a mocker, 23:14 strong drink is raging. 23:16 And whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." 23:19 It's not merely that I don't eat any and everything, 23:22 I can't. 23:23 I'm under orders. 23:25 "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, 23:27 do all to the glory and honor of God." 23:30 It's not merely that I don't engross myself 23:32 in pornography, I can't. 23:34 I'm under orders. 23:36 "I've made a covenant with mine eyes, 23:38 that I will not look lustfully at a woman." 23:40 Job's 31, Job 31:1. 23:44 It's not merely that I can't watch 23:45 any kind of movie. 23:47 I really won't. 23:48 I'm under orders. 23:50 "Let no evil thing pass before thine eyes." 23:53 It's not merely that I don't sow my proverbial wild oats, 23:57 I can't. 23:58 I'm under orders. 23:59 "Flee youthful lust." 24:02 It's not merely 24:03 that I don't work on the Sabbath, I can't. 24:05 I'm under orders, orders. 24:07 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." 24:11 It's not merely that I don't do drugs, I can't. 24:14 I'm under orders. 24:15 "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost." 24:19 It's not merely that I don't sleep around, I can't. 24:22 I'm under orders. 24:23 "Be therefore holy, for I, the Lord, am holy." 24:27 So soldiers of Christ, the battle is on! 24:30 Are you a soldier? 24:32 Then be a good soldier, then be steadfast, 24:35 be single minded, be committed to service. 24:39 My brothers and sisters, 24:40 do you want to be a good soldier? 24:42 There's a rich reward for good soldiers. 24:46 I want you to note something of importance. 24:49 2 Timothy 4:7 says, "I have fought the good fight. 24:53 I have finished a race and I've kept the faith." 24:56 The only other place 24:58 where we have this combination in the entire Bible 25:00 is in 2 Timothy 2:4 and 5, 25:03 where Paul deals with battle and athletics. 25:06 There's a link in Paul's mind. 25:08 You see, the call to courage in Chapter 2 25:10 is reflected in Chapter 4 and Verse 7. 25:12 But the exciting thing is that a reward is enunciated. 25:15 Let us read 2 Timothy 4:8, it says, 25:18 "Now there is in store for me, the crown of righteousness, 25:23 which the Lord, the righteous judge, 25:25 will award to me on that day, and not only to me, 25:29 but also to all who long for His appearing." 25:32 So I'm committing myself to this battle. 25:35 I want to be steadfast and single minded 25:38 and committed to service. 25:39 Scripture says that all the promises of God 25:42 are only yes in Christ. 25:44 Amen. 25:46 2 Corinthians 1:20 tells us that so I want to be obedient, 25:50 and I want to say like a good soldier, 25:52 when God gives me an order, I want to say, "Yes, sir." 25:57 When he says, "Go ye therefore, 25:58 and preach this gospel 26:00 as a witness into all the world," 26:01 I say, "Yes sir!" 26:03 Yes, sir. 26:04 When he says, "Be holy," I say, "Yes, sir!" 26:08 "Preach the word in season and out of season." 26:11 "Yes, sir." 26:13 He says, "Be steadfast." 26:15 I say, "Yes, sir." 26:17 One day our Lord promises He'll come. 26:20 And He'll give to us a crown of life. 26:23 And we'll live in a land where we'll never die again. 26:26 We'll live with Him where there'll be peace 26:27 and everlasting joy. 26:29 Amen. 26:30 Endure hardship 26:33 like a good soldier of the cross. 26:36 Amen. 26:38 Thank you, Lord, for this word tonight. 26:41 Give us strength before we face the test, 26:45 so that we can withstand all of our testing. 26:48 In the name of Jesus we pray with joy abundant 26:51 and thanksgiving. 26:53 Amen. Amen. 26:55 Thanks for watching Pathway of Hope. 26:58 If you would like to be prayed for 27:01 or would like to learn more about God's word, 27:04 please call 1 (877) 520-HOPE 27:10 or 1 (877) 520 (4673). 27:17 You may also watch more of our programs online 27:21 at www.pathwayofhope.tv. 27:27 If you would like to make a tax deductible love gift, 27:31 please send your gifts to Pathway of Hope 27:35 at P.O. Box 280704, Queens Village, 27:41 New York 11428. 27:45 Thanks for watching Pathway of Hope 27:47 and may God's blessings be yours today. |
Revised 2020-03-21